Formosa Collection

Formosa Oolong Tea Rooms advertisement, 1916
Advertisement for the Formosa Oolong Tea Rooms - the most charming place in London for luncheons, teas and dinners. Illustration shows a lady having tea with an officer in uniform while a waitress in

CHINA: FUJIAN MAP, 1662. Engraved map of the province of Fujian, China, also showing the Strait of Taiwan and part of Taiwan (Formosa) from Jan Blaeus Atlas Major published in Amsterdam in 1662

Natives of the island of Formosa (Taiwan), depicted as headhunters and cannibals, 1820s. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Bernieri from Giulio Ferrrarios Costumes Antique

Mud flats at Ria Formosa Nature park, Quinta do Lago, Portugal

Shining-leaved sage, Salvia formosa
5856393 Shining-leaved sage, Salvia formosa; (add.info.: Shining-leaved sage, Salvia formosa, with scarlet flowers from Peru)

Map of Japan and Korea, c.1900 (engraving)
533031 Map of Japan and Korea, c.1900 (engraving); (add.info.: Map of Japan and Korea, with insets of Kurile Islands, Liu-Kiu Islands and Formosa, circa 1902)

Map of the Liu-Kiu Islands and Formosa, c.1900 (engraving)
533335 Map of the Liu-Kiu Islands and Formosa, c.1900 (engraving); (add.info.: Historical map of Southern part of Japan, Liu-Kiu Islands and Formosa with inset map of Bonin and Sulphur Islands)

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) carrying fish above river in Taipei, Taiwan

Political map of the Japanese Empire, early 20th century. Korea was under Japanese rule from 1910-1945. Japanese forces invaded and occupied Sakhalin during the Russo-Japanese War in 1905

Mikado pheasant (Syrmaticus mikado) male, close up photo, Taiwan

Taiwan yellow tit ( Machlolophus holsti ) Lalashan National Forest Reserve, Taiwan. Endemic

Apple hawk-moth (Langia zenzeroides formosana) Nzaus Mamei Jianshih Village, Hsssinchu County, Taiwan, Controlled conditions

A young woman in Traditional Japanese costume - Taiwan
A young woman in Japanese costume - Taiwan (Formosa) - Taiwan was under Japanese rule in the period between 1895 and 1945. circa 1920s

Formosa Boulevard metro station and crossroads, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

Spotted unicornfish (Naso brevirostris) Green Island, a small volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean, Taiwan

Political map of Eastern China, showing Taiwan, Tianjin and the Bohai Sea. Plate 64 from The Times Atlas

Missionary Pedro de Alcala in Formosa
Pedro de Alcala baptises three Formosan criminals, comforting them as they die slowly and painfully on the scaffold Date: circa 1685

DDE-90036951
Formosan Cobra, Naja naja formosa, Native to Ceylon Date: 30/07/2008

DDE-90020972
Madagascar. Madagascar Thorn Spider (Gasteracantha versicolor formosa) Date: 28/07/2006

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Formosa Boulevard metro station and crossroads, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan Date: 16-01-2020

A Country Road near Taiwanfu; A Catamaran; Chain Pumps; Rock Inscriptions, Amoy, c. 1868. A work made of collotype, pl. v from the album " illustrations of china and its people

Bamboos at Baksa, Formosa, c. 1868. Creator: John Thomson
Bamboos at Baksa, Formosa, c. 1868. A work made of collotype, pl. i from the album " illustrations of china and its people, volume ii" (1873)

A Mountain Pass in Formosa, c. 1868. Creator: John Thomson
A Mountain Pass in Formosa, c. 1868. A work made of collotype, pl. xxiv from the album " illustrations of china and its people, volume i" (1873)

Map of Asia, early 19th century
6337920 Map of Asia, early 19th century by English School, (19th century); (add.info.: Map of Asia, early 19th century. Showing Asia Minor, Arabia, Persia, Siberia, Tartary, Thibet, Hindoostan)

Forts Zeelandia and Provintia and the City of Tainan, wall hanging
5049801 Forts Zeelandia and Provintia and the City of Tainan, wall hanging (ink and color on deerskin) by Chinese School (19th century); 150.5 A-- 205.1 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The Japanese Military Expedition to Formosa (engraving)
1053079 The Japanese Military Expedition to Formosa (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Japanese Military Expedition to Formosa)

The "Black Flags"in Formosa, constructing a Bamboo Bridge across the Lagoon
1628217 The " Black Flags" in Formosa, constructing a Bamboo Bridge across the Lagoon, by which to retreat when the Japanese attack the Forts (engraving) by Overend

Sketches in Formosa, in a Bamboo Forest (engraving)
1626959 Sketches in Formosa, in a Bamboo Forest (engraving) by Forestier, Amedee (1854-1930) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sketches in Formosa, in a Bamboo Forest)

The War, the Fleet of Steamers hired by the Government as Transports to convey the Troops to South Africa (litho)
1043230 The War, the Fleet of Steamers hired by the Government as Transports to convey the Troops to South Africa (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The War)

Views at the South Cape of Formosa (engraving)
1044094 Views at the South Cape of Formosa (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Views at the South Cape of Formosa)

American warblers
Black-throated blue warbler, Setophaga caerulescens 1, 2, black-throated green warbler, Setophaga virens 3 and northern parula, Setophaga americana 4

Scenes from the history of the United States
William Penn making a treaty in 1682 with the Lenape Native Americans 82, Benjamin Franklin drawing electricity from the sky in a thunderstorm 83

Painted tongue or velvet trumpet flower, Salpiglossis sinuata. Chromolithograph from an illustration by Desire Bois from Edward Steps Favourite Flowers of Garden and Greenhouse, Frederick Warne

Shining-leaved sage, Salvia formosa, Salvia bella. Handcoloured copperplate stipple engraving from Antoine Laurent de Jussieus Dizionario delle Scienze Naturali, Dictionary of Natural Science

Blood amaranth, Amaranthus cruentus
Blood amaranth or Mexican grain amaranth, Amaranthus cruentus (amaranthe paniculee, Amaranthus paniculatus.) Handcoloured copperplate stipple engraving from Antoine Laurent de Jussieus Dizionario

Southern Asia from China to New Guinea, including the Indonesian archipelago
BON111076 Southern Asia from China to New Guinea, including the Indonesian archipelago and the Philippines, c.1700 (coloured engraving) by Covens, Johannes & Mortier

Primrose or Primula varieties
Burnards formosa, Primula elatior polyanthus, Conqueror of Europe auricula, Primula auricula, and common primrose, Primula vulgaris

Corydalis species
Noble corydalis, Corydalis nobilis, bracteated corydalis, Corydalis bracteata, hollow-rooted fumitory, Corydalis tuberosa, long-flowered corydalis, Corydalis longiflora, beautiful dielytra

Siphocampylos and Leschenaultia species
Cavanilles siphocampylos, Siphocamylos cavanillesii, two-lobed leschenaultia, Leschenaultia biloba, beautiful leschenaultia, Leschenaultia formosa, grass-leaved stylidium, Stylidium graminifolium

Mountain devil, Lambertia formosa. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by George Cooke after George Loddiges from Conrad Loddiges Botanical Cabinet, Hackney, 1817

Red leschenaultia, Lechenaultia formosa (Lachenaultia formosa). Handcoloured copperplate engraving by George Cooke after Thomas Shotter Boys from Conrad Loddiges Botanical Cabinet, Hackney, 1825

Common magpie, Pica pica, and white-throated magpie-jay, Calocitta formosa, with egg. Pie commune et pie commandeur. Handcoloured steel engraving by du Casse after an illustration by Adolph Fries

Pink coral fungus, Ramaria formosa
Pink coral fungus or beautiful clavaria, Ramaria formosa (Clavaria formosa). Chromolithograph after a botanical illustration by William Hamilton Gibson from his book Our Edible Toadstools

Striped buttercup variety, Potentilla formosa, Potentilla striata formosissima. Handcoloured lithograph from Louis van Houtte and Charles Lemaires Flowers of the Gardens and Hothouses of Europe

Dutch castle of Zeelandia (Tainan) on Formosa (Taiwan)
The castle of Zeelandia (Tainan) on Formosa (Taiwan) built by the Dutch East India Company. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Bernieri from Giulio Ferrrarios Costumes Antique

Map of Asia circa 1810. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by Andrea Bernieri from Giulio Ferrarios Ancient and Modern Costumes of all the Peoples of the World, Florence, Italy, 1843

Himalayan honeysuckle, Leycesteria formosa. Handcoloured copperplate engraving after a botanical illustration by Walter Fitch from William Jackson Hookers Botanical Magazine, London, 1839

Wild bleeding heart, Dicentra formosa. (Blush fumitory, Fumaria formosa). Handcoloured copperplate engraving by F. Sansom after an illustration by Sydenham Edwards from William Curtis The Botanical

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"Exploring the Rich Heritage of Formosa: From Tea Rooms to Volcanic Islands" Step back in time to 1916, when the aroma Oolong Tea filled the air at the renowned tea rooms. This advertisement captured not only the essence of a delightful beverage but also hinted at the island's cultural significance. Formosa, known today as Taiwan, has a history that stretches far beyond its tea traditions. Natives have called this land home for centuries, their vibrant culture shaping its identity. The engraving from Jan Blaeus Atlas Major showcases Fujian province in China and highlights Taiwan's strategic location within it – an important gateway between nations. Nature enthusiasts will find solace amidst the mud flats of Ria Formosa Nature Park in Portugal. Quinta do Lago offers breathtaking views where land meets water, reminding us of how diverse and awe-inspiring our planet can be. Intriguingly, even missionaries like Pedro de Alcala found themselves drawn to Formosa's shores. Their presence speaks volumes about the island's allure and spiritual significance throughout history. Beyond historical accounts lies a glimpse into everyday life on this enchanting island. Juan and Eva Peron were captivated by a football match – a testament to Taiwan's passion for sports that continues to thrive today. During World War I, another advertisement showcased Formosa Oolong Tea once again – evidence of its enduring popularity both locally and internationally. Venturing into nature reveals remarkable creatures unique to Taiwan. From Mikado pheasants with their resplendent plumage to Taiwan yellow tits gracefully flitting through Lalashan National Forest Reserve - these species remind us of Mother Nature's artistry on display here. Witnessing an osprey carrying fish above Taipei River is just one example of how wildlife thrives alongside bustling cityscapes on this extraordinary island. And let us not forget about Taiwanese traditions influenced by neighboring Japan.